[Insights Secure – 2019] Daily UPSC Mains Answer Writing Practice: 24 August 2019
Click on EACH question to post/upload you answers.
How to Follow Secure Initiative?
How to Self-evaluate your answer?
INSIGHTS NEW SECURE – 2019: YEARLONG TIMETABLE
Tomorrow’s Static Topic: Public/Civil service values and Ethics in Public administration: Status and problems;
ethical concerns and dilemmas in government and private institutions; laws, rules,
regulations and conscience as sources of ethical guidance; accountability and ethical
governance; strengthening of ethical and moral values in governance; ethical issues
in international relations and funding; corporate governance.
General Studies – 2
Topic:Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health.
Why this question:
Recently the final decision on whether the government can block private pharmaceutical companies from manufacturing and selling vital pregnancy drug oxytocin in India has been deferred, with the Supreme Court deciding the issue needs further deliberation.
Key demand of the question:
The answer must discuss the significance of oxytocin and challenges associated with the manufacturing of the same.
Directive:
Discuss – This is an all-encompassing directive – you have to debate on paper by going through the details of the issues concerned by examining each one of them. You have to give reasons for both for and against arguments.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Define oxytocin – Oxytocin has also been dubbed the love hormone and the bliss hormone due to its effects on behavior, including its role in love and in female reproductive biological functions in reproduction.
Body:
Discuss first the issue involved – The Delhi high court had quashed the Centre’s December 14, 2018 notification, which had banned its sale by private manufacturers and retail chemists, saying the sale was allowed. Essentially, this meant that only KAPL could produce the drug as there is no other public sector enterprise doing so. However, Delhi high court quashed the amended order too. The central government moved Supreme Court against the Delhi high court order.
Explain why is oxytocin vital?
What reasons have necessitated the ban?
What needs to be done?
Conclusion:
Conclude with way forward.
Topic: Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health
Why this question:
Vector-borne diseases have gained significance in recent years with several States reporting a surge in malaria, dengue, chikungunya, etc., year after year. While there is awareness about these, not many know that lymphatic filariasis is another preventable vector-borne disease that needs to be tackled effectively to meet the Health Ministry’s target of eliminating it in India by 2020.
Key demand of the question:
The answer must discuss what is lymphatic filariasis, in what way it affects the poorest the most and what needs to be done to overcome this challenge to achieve health for all goal of 2020.
Directive:
Examine – When asked to ‘Examine’, we must look into the topic (content words) in detail, inspect it, investigate it and establish the key facts and issues related to the topic in question. While doing so we should explain why these facts and issues are important and their implications.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Describe What is lymphatic filariasis?
Body:
The answer must first discuss what is the disease about, its prevalence in the country. Lymphatic filariasis, commonly known as elephantiasis, is a neglected tropical disease.
Infection occurs when filarial parasites are transmitted to humans through mosquitoes. Infection is usually acquired in childhood causing hidden damage to the lymphatic system. The painful and disfiguring visible manifestations of the disease, lymphoedema, elephantiasis and scrotal swelling (hydrocele) occur later in life and can lead to permanent disability. These patients are not only physically disabled, but suffer mental, social and financial losses contributing to stigma and poverty.
Explain the policies and initiatives that are under progress to tackle the menace.
Conclusion:
Conclude with way forward.
Topic: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation. Disaster and disaster management.
Why this question:
The question is based on the context of use of big data innovations in managing disasters in the country.
Key demand of the question:
One must relate the relevance of use of bid data technology and innovations to disaster management.
Directive:
Discuss – This is an all-encompassing directive – you have to debate on paper by going through the details of the issues concerned by examining each one of them. You have to give reasons for both for and against arguments.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
In short define what are big data innovations.
Body:
Explain that Disasters are dangerous, but Big Data can help improve disaster relief and preparedness to cut back on lives lost and community damage. Over the last two decades, remarkable innovations such as the Internet of things (IoT) have entered the mainstream. While the intensity of natural disasters is increasing, advances in communications because of this technology has greatly reduced casualties and injuries. Big Data technology has proven its merit as a resource for disaster relief and preparedness. It helps emergency responder agencies identify and track populations such as elderly communities or areas with high concentrations of babies and children.
Additionally, Big Data systems help rescue workers identify support resources and plan logistics during emergencies. Big data also facilitates real-time communication during a disaster, and emergency managers use the technology to forecast how residents will react to crises.
Substantiate your answer by quoting recent examples.
Conclusion:
Conclude with way forward.
Topic: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation. . Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources.
Why this question:
The Ministry of Human Resource Development (HRD) launched the National Initiative for School Heads’ and Teachers’ Holistic Advancements (NISHTHA) recently, which is aimed at training over 42 lakh teachers across the country.
Demand of the question:
The answer must evaluate in detail the current conditions of teacher training and education in India. One must discuss the reasons for poor quality of teacher training and suggest solutions.
Directive word:
Discuss – This is an all-encompassing directive – you have to debate on paper by going through the details of the issues concerned by examining each one of them. You have to give reasons for both for and against arguments.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction
In brief discuss the significance of teachers training and quote some relevant facts.
Body
Discuss the reasons for poor quality of teachers training –
- For years, certain institutions which impart teacher training courses have failed to get the necessary recognition from the National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE).
- The future of those who graduate from such institutions, which are funded by the Central/ State government or Union Territory administration concerned, has been in jeopardy.
- Certain institutions failed to obtain recognition and permission from the Council, though they continued to admit students for teacher education and training courses.
- Irrelevant licensing and privatization of Teachers Education Institutes leading to low quality training of teachers.
- Huge number of TEIs being either corrupt or dysfunctional.
- Increasing number of teachers with substandard training because of lack of faculty in TEIs.
Then explain the importance of teacher training, explain recent initiatives taken in this direction etc.
Conclusion
Conclude with significance of teacher training.
General Studies – 3
Topic: Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways etc. Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment
5) Discuss the significance of Ocean energy as a potential renewable energy in India. (250 words)
Why this question:
The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy has declared Ocean Energy as renewable energy. Thus, it is important from the point of view of GS paper III to examine the merits of ocean energy and its potential.
Key demand of the question:
The answer must write a short note on ocean energy as a potential renewable energy.
Directive:
Discuss – This is an all-encompassing directive – you have to debate on paper by going through the details of the issues concerned by examining each one of them. You have to give reasons for both for and against arguments.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Begin with brief introduction on ocean energy.
Body:
The question is straightforward and nothing much to deliberate. One must categorically discuss ocean energy as the renewable energy.
Discuss the significance of such an energy – vastness, ease of use etc. Oceans cover more than 70% of Earth’s surface, making them the world’s largest solar collectors.
The sun’s heat warms the surface water a lot more than the deep ocean water, and this temperature difference creates thermal energy. Just a small portion of the heat trapped in the ocean could power the world.
Ocean energy is currently under-utilized and as on date, India does not have any installed ocean energy capacity. It is mostly exploited through a few technologies including wave, tidal, current energy and ocean thermal energy.
Conclusion:
Conclude with way forward.
General Studies – 4
Topic: Public/Civil service values and Ethics in Public administration: Status and problems; ethical concerns and dilemmas in government and private institutions; laws, rules, regulations and conscience as sources of ethical guidance; accountability and ethical governance; strengthening of ethical and moral values in governance; ethical issues in international relations and funding; corporate governance.
Ethics by Lexicon publications
Why this question:
The question is straightforward and is about discussing the essence of public interest.
Key demand of the question:
Explain in detail the importance of public interest to a civil servant and discuss the principles and procedures to be followed by the civil servants in public interest.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Explain what public interest in generic terms is.
Body:
Welfare of the general public (in contrast to the selfish interest of a person, group, or firm) in which the whole society has a stake and which warrants recognition, promotion, and protection by the government and its agencies.
Explain in what way the objective of the Ethical Framework for the government sector explicitly recognizes the role of the government sector in preserving the public interest.
Discuss the virtues, rules and principles that civil servants must follow to ensure public interest.
Conclusion:
Conclude by reasserting significance and centrality of public interest to civil services.
Topic: Public/Civil service values and Ethics in Public administration: Status and problems; ethical concerns and dilemmas in government and private institutions; laws, rules, regulations and conscience as sources of ethical guidance; accountability and ethical governance; strengthening of ethical and moral values in governance; ethical issues in international relations and funding; corporate governance.
Ethics by Lexicon publications
Why this question:
The question is based on the theme of ethical dilemma.
Key demand of the question:
One has to discuss the various ethical dimensions involved and the actors likely to be effected by the decision in the above given case study.
Directive:
Discuss – This is an all-encompassing directive – you have to debate on paper by going through the details of the issues concerned by examining each one of them. You have to give reasons for both for and against arguments.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
State the stakeholders involved in the situation what are the key factors such as the ethical dilemma involved, issue of bribery, right vs wrong etc.
Body:
Explain the possible dilemmas the deputy manager may face and in what way that may complicate his decisions.
The manager has an obligation to obey the laws of the land but as an employee he also owes a degree of obedience
to his superiors and an obligation to ensure the company’s success. This conflicting two-fold obligation comprises not only business and commercial success but also includes his duty to guard his company’s reputation, protect its interests and see that it doesn’t fall foul of the law. Finally, the manager has a duty towards himself not to compromise his own personal conscience.
Discuss then the impact of giving bribe.
Suggest solutions, alternatives.
Conclusion:
Conclude that Business is a cooperative activity whose very existence requires ethical behaviour, as any unethical behaviour on the part of any stakeholder is detrimental to business interests. Business cannot strive without ethics, so it is in the best interest of business to promote ethical behaviour among all its stakeholders as well as within its larger society.
NOTE:
